(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) are alerting Iowans who use SNAP that due to the federal shutdown continuing, there is a possibility that November benefits will not be issued onto cards. In a statement today (Friday), officials say Iowa received notification from the Food and Nutrition Service late last week directing the state, and all states nationwide, not to issue November benefits.

Iowa HHS continues to monitor the situation very closely and will provide updates. Iowa SNAP currently serves approximately 131,000 households per month and allocates around 45 million dollars in benefits, which are federally paid.

Iowa HHS has engaged our food bank and pantry partners and community-based organizations to prepare to provide additional support to impacted Iowans.

Once the government shutdown ends, Iowa HHS will work diligently to process SNAP benefits and make them available for use with the SNAP card. Individuals that currently receive SNAP should retain their cards even throughout the shutdown.

As the situation evolves, Iowa HHS will continue to provide updates as they become available. Please visit hhs.iowa.gov/snap to sign up for updates.